Colorado governor signs 'rebirthing' ban

DENVER, Colorado (CNN) -- Gov. Bill Owens on Tuesday signed a bill into law that prohibits the use of "rebirthing" techniques by mental health professionals, a move that comes one year after a 10-year-old girl died while undergoing such therapy.

Two therapists are charged with child abuse in the death of Candace Newmaker of Durham, North Carolina. They are now standing trial.

"Perhaps little Candace's death is going to allow us to avoid tragedies like this in the future," Owens said at the signing ceremony, attended by the girl's maternal grandparents.

Therapists who use the rebirthing technique, which is supposed to simulate the birth process, would be subject to criminal penalties, Owens said.

A video of Candace's session was played at the trial earlier this month.

In that video, shot April 18, 2000, Candace is shown wrapped in a blue flannel sheet and covered with pillows. Therapists Julie Ponder, 40, and Connell Watkins, 54, and two other adults come into the room and lean onto her covered body to simulate birth contractions. Candace is then instructed to "fight to live" -- struggle to emerge from the blanket and be "reborn" into the arms of her adoptive mother, who stood by.

Over the next 70 minutes Candace is first heard periodically struggling and screaming, "I can't do it"; "I can't breathe"; "I'm going to throw up"; "I'm going to poop."

Later she is heard breathing hard and softly whimpering. For the final 20 minutes nothing is heard from her.

The therapists press against the girl throughout and are heard telling Candace, "You have to fight to live"; "You're a quitter"; "If you don't have the courage to live, it's easier to die."

Ponder ultimately unwraps Candace. The girl is unconscious, not breathing, and without a pulse.

Candace was airlifted to a hospital and the next morning was pronounced dead of asphyxiation.

Ponder and Watkins are charged with reckless child abuse leading to death.

The adoptive mother, Jeane Newmaker, 47, will face a lesser charge of negligent child abuse leading to death. The two therapy assistants also will face lesser charges.

Newmaker adopted Candace in 1996. She testified earlier this week that her daughter's behavior had become so outrageous that she flew from North Carolina to Colorado and paid $7,000 to obtain the controversial therapy treatment provided by Watkins and Ponder.

Rebirthing is considered an experimental treatment and is not recognized as legitimate by all health care professionals. Neither Watkins nor Ponder is a licensed therapist. While Colorado does not require a license for practicing psychotherapy, all individuals must register with the state. Both therapists' registrations had lapsed.

If convicted, the two women could be sentenced to a maximum of 48 years in prison.